In first move since Amazon acquisition, Ring launches Neighbors app to help users fight crime

Ring, the smart-home security company that was acquired by Amazon a month ago, is harnessing the power of its users to fight crime with the launch of a new Neighbors app. It’s the first announcement from the company since its deal with the Seattle-based tech giant.

Ring hopes the free app will help catch package thieves and stop burglaries, perhaps even with the sharing of footage captured through its signature video doorbell. Alerts posted by users in specific geographic areas will provide a real-time crime-fighting tool, the company said Tuesday.

The Neighbors network was previously available in the main Ring app, and already has millions of users.

App users can see posts uploaded by neighbors, the Ring team and local law enforcement via an interactive map. If a neighbor notices suspicious activity in their area, they can post their own text, photo or video and alert the community.

“At Ring, we come to work every day with the mission of reducing crime in neighborhoods,” Jamie Siminoff, chief inventor and founder of Ring, said in a news release. “Over the past few years we have learned that, when neighbors, the Ring team and law enforcement all work together, we can create safer communities. Neighbors is meant to facilitate real-time communication between these groups, while maintaining neighbor privacy first and foremost. By bringing security to every neighbor with the free Neighbors app, communities can stay on top of crime and safety alerts as they happen.”

Amazon completed its acquisition of the Santa Monica, Calif.-based Ring on April 12. While Reuters put the price of the deal at $1 billion when news first broke in February, neither company confirmed the acquisition price. Ring continues to operate independently from Amazon.

Writer and editor Kurt Schlosser covers the Geek Life beat for GeekWire. A longtime journalist, photographer and designer, he has worked previously for NBC News, msnbc.com and the Seattle P-I. Follow Kurt on Twitter or reach him at kurt@geekwire.com.

Get deep technical and business insights on the cloud from leaders at Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Apple and more. GeekWire’s Cloud Tech Summit is the premier independent technical conference for anyone looking to get ahead in the cloud, from developers to business decision makers. Including deep-dive technical sessions on AI/ML, Serverless, DevOps, Containers, SaaS, Hybrid Cloud and more.Learn more and register here.